The description of interactions among various brain signals represents only an initial step. One workshop goal was to consider new bridging approaches for research. Molecular biology may provide the key. The investigators who participated in the HFG workshop are among those who have helped advance the field through methodologies that span sophisticated neuroanatomical, pharmacological, biochemical, and other cytological methods. Yet this body of work is limited in its implications because it is correlational. In fact, it will be essential to explore the molecular bases for these interactions, raising the need for broadened training if we are to see truly substantive progress. These considerations, discussed in the workshop setting, pointed to the need for the development of multi-disciplinary groups to assess the neurobiology of aggression. This was recognized as an important feature of contemporary science and an approach the Guggenheim Foundation was in a unique position to foster.

Conclusion

There is a significant opportunity for investigators seeking to elucidate the neurobiology of animal and human aggression, one that requires integration and effective communication. Building bridges between basic and clinical scientists is a powerful means for advancing potential treatment strategies. Psychopharmacological and molecular biological tools now allow us to define cellular machinery and, in the near future, imaging technologies may well allow us to see cellular events in real time. The key issue is not one of scientific talent or resources, it is overcoming the parallelism that has accompanied the demands of highly specialized contemporary science. It is incumbent on investigators working on neural and chemical mechanisms underlying aggression to promote cross-fertilization of ideas with clinical scientists. Regardless of orientation, investigators stand to benefit enormously from these exchanges, with emerging concepts improving opportunities for the development of effective intervention strategies.

This article is based on a H. F. Guggenheim workshop meeting, "Insight through Understanding: Bridging Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Approaches to Aggression," held in Toledo, Spain, in January, 1996. The authors were the conference organizers.

References

Archer, J. 1991. The influence of testosterone on human aggression. Br. J. Psychology 82: 1-28.

Asberg, M., L. Traksman, and P. Thoren. 1976. 5-HIAAA in the cerebrospinal fluid: A biochemical suicide predictor? Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 33: 1193-1197.

Brown, G. L., F. K. Goodwin, J. C. Ballenger, et al. 1979. Aggression in humans correlates with cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolites. Psychiatry Res. 13: 1-9.

C. elegans consortium. 1998. Science 282: 2011-2046.

Coccaro, E. F. and R. J. Kavoussi. 1997. Fluoxetine and impulsive aggressive behavior in personality disordered subjects. Arch. of Gen. Psychiatry 54: 1081-1088.

Coccaro, E. F., R. J. Kavoussi, M. E. Berman, and J. D. Lish. 1998. Intermittent explosive disorder-revised: Development, reliability, and validity of research criteria. Comprehensive Psychiatry 39: 368-376.

Coccaro, E. F., R. J. Kavoussi, R. L. Hauger, T. B. Cooper, and C. F. Ferris. 1998. Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin: Correlates with aggression and serotonin function in personality disordered subjects. Arch. of Gen. Psychiatry 55: 708-714.

Coccaro, E. F., T. Lawrence, R. Tristan, et al. 1991. Growth hormone responses to intravenous clonidine challenge correlates with behavioral irritability in psychiatric patients and in healthy volunteers. Psychiatry Res. 39: 129-139.

Coccaro, E. F., L. J. Siever, H. M. Klar, et al. 1989. Serotonergic studies in affective and personality disorder: Correlates with suicidal and impulsive aggressive behavior. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 46: 587-599.

Ferris, C. F., and Y. Deville. 1994. Vasopressin and serotonin interactions in the control of agonistic behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology 19: 593-601.

Finkelstein, J. W., E. J. Susman, V. M. Chinchilli, S. J. Kunselman, M. R. d'Arcangelo, J. Schwab, L. M. Demers, L. S. Liben, G. Lookingbill, and H. E. Kulin. 1997. Estrogen or testosterone increases self-reported aggressive behaviors in hypogonadal adolescents. J. Clin. Endoc. Metab. 82: 2433-38.

Gallligani, N., A. Renck, and S. Hansen. 1996. Personality profile of men using anabolic androgenic steroids. Horm. Behav. 30: 170-75.

Hen, R. 1996. Mean genes. Neuron. 16: 17-21.

Higley, J. D., P. T. Mehlman, D. M. Taub, S. B. Higley, S. J. Suomi, J. H. Vickers, and M. Linnoila. 1992. Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine and adrenal correlates of aggression in free-ranging rhesus monkeys. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 49: 436-441.

Kraemer, G. W., and A. S. Clarke. 1996. Social attachment, brain function, and aggression. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 794: 121-135.

Linnoila, M., M. Virkkunen, M. Scheinin, et al. 1983. Low cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid concentration differentiates impulsive from nonimpulsive violent behavior. Life Sciences 33: 2609-2614.

Miczek, K. A., E. Weerts, M. Haney, and J. Tidey. 1994. Neurobiological mechanisms controlling aggression: preclinical developments for pharmacotherapeutic interventions. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 18: 97-110.

Nelson, R. J., and K. A. Young. 1998. Behavior in mice with targeted disruption of single genes. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 22: 453-462.

Olivier, B., J. Mos, M. Raghoebar, P. de Koning, and M. Mak. 1994. Serenics Prog. Drug Res. 42: 169-248.

Orengo, C. A., M. E. Kunik, H. Ghusn, and S. C. Yudofsky. 1997. Correlation of testosterone with aggression in demented elderly men. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 185: 349-51.

Paech, K., P. Webb, G. Kuiper, S. Nilsson, J. Gustafsson, P. J. Kushner, and T. S. Scanlan. 1997. Differential ligand activation of estrogen receptors ERA and ERB at API sites. Science 277: 1508-1510.

Robins, L. N., and D. A. Regier. 1991. Psychiatric Disorders in America. New York: The Free Press.

Sheard, M., J. Marini, C. Bridges, and A. Wapner. 1976. The effect of lithium on impulsive aggressive behavior in man. Amer. J. of Psychiatry 13: 1409-1413.

Simon, N. G., A. Cologer-Clifford, S. Lu, S. E. McKenna, and S. Hu. In press. Testosterone and its metabolites modulate 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonist effects on intermale aggression. Neuro. Biobehav. Rev.

Soloff, P. H., A. George, R. S. Nathan, P. M. Schulz, and J. M. Perel. 1986. Paradoxical effects of amitriptyline in borderline patients. Am. J. Psychiatry 143: 1603-1605.

Virkkunen, M., D. Goldman, and M. Linnoila. 1996. Serotonin in alcoholic violent offenders. Ciba Foundation Symposium 194: 168-77.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | back to TOC